McPakua - want fries w/ that?

This is a chain of schools that have recently begun to pop up in my area (I've got 3 within a 2 mile radius). From what I've seen, it's a mish-mash of techniques including BJJ & yoga. Watch the training/technique videos & have a good laugh.

One more thing...check out the "Masters" section to see what the "masters" & "Instructors" look like (especially Master Frantantoni).

www.pakua.org

'Pa' means 8 and 'Kua' means changes. Well, at least they are 50% right.

Some nit picking issues....

1) Pakua as I know is always refer to a zhang (palm) not chuen (fist). Hence I have only seen Pakuacheong or Baguazhang... never Pakua chuen. Maybe it is just terminology issue here, but any thought from other BGZ practitioner out there?

2) In the weapon section listed as sabre training... I don't see the traditional chinese Dao or broadsword, but rather it seems that they are holding katana, and the form that they are doing seems more akin to some form of mish mash iaido rather than the chinese broadsword form that I have seen before.

Pakua knowledge are also used extensively in the study of geomancy or feng shui, I wonder if they also teach them too...

Xwf

"iitai? iitai? iitakunai daiyo! Yowaimushi dese ne!"

thought your quote was funny, was that from your sensei?
translation: "That hurt? That hurt? That didn't hurt- you are just a weak insect aren't you!"

on topic: ...is there a relationship in owners and/or org between Shaolin-Do and Pakua? I found some connections, but can't really nail down a common element. could be coincidence. also, I'm not sure but couldn't 'Pakua' also translate to '8-animals' ?

Kin,

I always thought that Pa Kua was 8 Changes or 8 directions. Eight animals I had never heard of before. I am very ignorant on Chinese martial arts, but thought this one of the "higher" internal styles.

-B

Dear Kintama,

Yes, the funny quote is indeed from my sensei. I thought it was funny too. It happenned not too long ago, about one year ago when we did a technique called tekubi osae (a Daito ryu technique/ yonkyo for those in the aikikai system). A 4th kyu student cried out because he could not take the pain and sensei shouted at him "iitai? iitai? iitakunai daiyo! Yowaimushi dese ne!".


Baguazhang and Shaolin Chuanfa is heaven and earth apart, in terms of philospohy, organization etc. BGZ is one of the three major internal system of CMA, whereas Shaolin is known as the external style. Shaolin is heavily influenced by Buddhist phylosophy, BGZ is Toaist. Shaolin started from Henan province, BGZ is from Wudang mountain (pls correct me if I am wrong as I type this impromtu without refering to any published source).

And finally, as I recall, there is no known 8 animal style in the CMA universe, albeit there are 5 animals kung fu. Hence IMO, Pakua cannot be translated to 8 animals style.

Xwf

......


Training videos......what is with all the turning of backs to the opponent? Seems like a RNC waiting to happen.

Ohhhh...I want a chance to spar with those guys in the videos!



Mike

Is it just me, or is their sparring just one guy doing a form and the other guy just running around and punching where he knows the next block is going to be?

I hope you folks are not altogether surprised. The Hapkido arts have dealt with this condition for some years.

For myself I have noticed a growing number of Mc-MA-s in the last ten years. Formerly it was usually somebody who has whip-stitched together some material and gave it a name of its own. However, I have noticed a growing number of cases where people have constructed some art and assumed a name of of a known and respected activity. My sense is this started with arts such as Judo and Karate when those terms came to be used in a more generic sense. Later it was "Kung-Fu" and Taekwondo. Now the effort seems to be more art specific with BaQua Chang, Escrima, Penjat Silat and Muay Thai being the most recent. To my way of thinking this pro mises to get worse rather than better if these arts do not make an effort to define their limits and authenticity. They don't have to "stand-tall" but they DO need to "stand-up". FWIW.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

I was talking about this:
http://www.whitemountain-tao.com/html/xiepeiqi.html
lol
either that sword is cartoon-size, or he is 2 feet tall.

Quote:

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I was talking about this:
http://www.whitemountain-tao.com/html/xiepeiqi.html
lol
either that sword is cartoon-size, or he is 2 feet tall.

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I'm sorry i just couldn't resist!!

http://photobucket.com/albums/y34/Funstick5000/?action=view&current=Nowthatswhataknife.jpg